AC Milan’s chances of finishing in the top four were severely dented on Friday evening when they were beaten 2-1 by Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium.

The first goal of the game went to Charles De Ketelaere, who headed in a free kick, but Milan equalized when Alvaro Morata scored from Rafael Leao’s cross.

When it looked like a draw was on the cards, Ademola Lookman popped up at the far post to head in from a cross and continue Atalanta’s brilliant run.

The result means Milan are now 12 points behind their Lombard neighbors and their Scudetto dream is definitely over before the end of 2024.

Rather quietly, Paulo Fonseca made eight changes to the team that beat Sassuolo in the cup in midweek, bringing back players such as Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, Matteo Gabbia, Christian Pulisic and Alvaro Morata.

Milan could have taken the lead after just 13 seconds when a ball behind the Atalanta defense was saved by Christian Pulisic’s diagonal run. Similar to Davide Calabria’s opening game in the 2022/23 season, his run was uncontrolled, but he shot directly at the goalkeeper Carnesecchi.

The home side took the lead with the next chance of the game and it came from a rather predictable source: Charles De Ketelare. A free kick taken by De Roon from the left wing was countered by the Belgian, who headed the ball towards the back post with Maignan well beaten.

In the 22nd minute, Milan equalized with a great goal. Theo Hernandez passed the ball down the left to Leao and he played a brilliant ball across the six-yard box that Morata hammered into the goal for the first time.

The home team could have taken the lead again in the 24th minute when Maignan made a smart stop to stop Bellanova’s right-footed shot from close range.

There was a worrying sign for Milan in the 38th minute when Pulisic left with an apparent thigh injury and Fonseca brought in Ruben Loftus-Cheek to replace him.

The second half turned into a real tactical battle, with Atalanta appearing to be happy to let Milan have the ball and try to bait them with the press, hoping to catch them off guard in transition.

The Rossoneri had a chance to take the lead in the 75th minute when substitute Loftus-Cheek got well to the right byline and fired the ball back to Musah, who fired wide from inside the penalty area.

Milan made their second change in the 78th minute when Morata was subbed off and replaced by Tammy Abraham.

Just when it looked like the game was heading towards a draw, Atalanta stole the game at the crucial moment. A corner in the 87th minute was sent by Kolasinac and foiled by Ademola Lookman at the far post.

Maignan made a great save to deny Mateo Retegui after he was sent on goal in the second of five minutes added to the end of the 90 minutes, but the hosts took all three points.